A solution of Pd(PPh3)4 (Strem Chemicals Inc., Newburyport, Mass., 0.804 g, 0.696 mmol), 2-bromo-1-iodo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (Matrix Scientific, Columbia, S.C., 3.05 g, 8.70 mmol), tert-butyl 5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-2(1H)-carboxylate (ASW Medchem, Brunswick, N.J., 2.500 g, 6.96 mmol), and potassium carbonate (4.81 g, 34.8 mmol) in 14 mL dioxane and 6 mL water was heated to 100° C. overnight. LC/MS showed about 50% conversion, so the reaction mixture was transferred to a microwave vial, and was heated to 130° C. in a microwave reactor for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water then brine, the organics dried over MgSO4 and concentrated. Purification of the resulting residue by silica gel column chromatography (0 to 30% EtOAc/heptane) gave tert-butyl 5-(2-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-2(1H)-carboxylate (2.73 g, 5.98 mmol).
